Three types of 3D modeling are supported: wireframe, surface, and solid.

Each type
has its own creation and editing techniques.

A wireframe model is a skeletal description of a 3D object. There are no surfaces in

a wireframe model; it consists only of points, lines, and curves that describe the edges of
the object. You can create wireframe models by positioning 2D (planar) objects anywhere
in 3D space. Some 3D wireframe objects are also provided, such as 3D polylines (that
can only have a CONTINUOUS linetype) and splines. Because each object that makes
up a wireframe model must be independently drawn and positioned, this type of
modeling can be the most time-consuming.

Surface modeling is more sophisticated than wireframe modeling in that it defines not
only the edges of a 3D object, but also its surfaces. The surface modeler defines faceted
surfaces using a polygonal mesh. Because the faces of the mesh are planar, the mesh can
only approximate curved surfaces. With Autodesk Mechanical Desktop®, you can create
true curved surfaces. To differentiate these two types of surfaces, faceted surfaces are
called meshes.

Solid modeling is the easiest type of 3D modeling to use. With the solid modeler, you
can make 3D objects by creating basic 3D shapes: boxes, cones, cylinders, spheres,
wedges, and tori (donuts). You can then combine these shapes to create more complex
solids by joining or subtracting them or finding their intersecting (overlapping) volume.
You can also create solids by sweeping a 2D object along a path or revolving it about an
axis. With Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, you can also define solids parametrically and
maintain associativity between 3D models and the 2D views that you generate from them.

Note Because each modeling type uses a different method for constructing 3D models
and editing methods vary in their effect on the different model types, it is recommended
that you not mix modeling methods. Limited conversion between model types is
available from solids to surfaces and from surfaces to wireframes; however, you
cannot convert from wireframes to surfaces or from surfaces to solids.